September 1-7 Migraine


health diary 2019


Awareness Week Every September the Migraine Trust holds this event to raise general awareness of migraine as a serious public health issue as well as to support the millions of people affected. For more information, visit www.migrainetrust.org.


September 9-15


Know Your Numbers! Week Organised by Blood Pressure UK, this week- long event sees hundreds of Blood Pressure Stations across the UK offering free blood pressure checks and encourages adults across the UK to know their blood pressure. More at www.bloodpressureuk.org.


Health News


Blink more for healthy eyes


Houseplants make people


happy Research by London-based private members club Arboretum suggests more than half of British people say being around plants makes them happier and has a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Not good with plants? Try an aloe or


a jade plant (crassula), or a mother-in- law’s tongue (sanseveria), all of which are easy to look after.


Spending too much time in front of screens can make you blink less, which can lead to eye problems such as blurred vision and dry eyes, as well as headaches. According to research from eye


companies Hycosan and Optase Eye Care, more than half the nation now spends the working week looking at a monitor, with 88 per cent of those affected saying their eyes feel tired, dry and heavy as a result. Try this tip: follow the 20:20:20 rule.


This means every 20 minutes you should look away from your screens at something at least 20ft away for 20 seconds.


Your local Careway pharmacist can also recommend products for dry eyes, such as eye drops.


Is your glass half full or half empty?


Looking on the bright side of life and not giving up on your goals may help protect against anxiety, depression and panic attacks, suggests a study in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Following more than 3,000 people


over the course of 18 years, the researchers found those who were the most optimistic and determined had fewer episodes of depression, anxiety and panic disorders than those who experienced more negative thought patterns. “Our findings suggest people can


improve their mental health by raising or maintaining high levels of tenacity, resilience and optimism,” says the study’s co-author, Dr Michelle Newman.


Eat nuts for better blood pressure


Adding walnuts to a diet low in saturated fats may help lower blood pressure in people who have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, say researchers writing in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The researchers believe the


bioactive compounds or the fibre in walnuts may help lower blood pressure, and recommend snacking on walnuts instead of meat or dairy foods, saying walnuts are a good substitute for saturated fat.


One in four Brits shares their toothbrush


A quarter of British people are willing to share their toothbrush with others, says a survey commissioned by the Oral Health Foundation. The poll also shows that men are more likely to share than women, and younger adults twice as willing to share than their parents. However it’s not a good idea, say the charity’s experts,


thanks to the potentially harmful bacteria and viruses that can be passed from person to person via a toothbrush.


30 All About health


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